CPU Comparison

The AMD A12-9800 and Intel Core i5-3350P are two desktop processors from different eras and architectural philosophies. The data shows a clear performance gap, with the Intel part winning all five head-to-head benchmark comparisons, yet both chips occupy the same 30th percentile in the overall CPU performance distribution. This creates an interesting dynamic where the newer AMD part, built on a 28 nm process with a higher clock speed, consistently trails the older Intel design across every tested workload, prompting a closer look at what each platform offers beyond raw compute scores.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher base and boost clock speed?

A: The AMD A12-9800 operates at a base clock of 3.80 GHz and boosts up to 4.20 GHz. The Intel Core i5-3350P is significantly lower, with a base clock of 3.10 GHz and a boost clock of 3.30 GHz.

Q: How do the two chips compare in multi-core rendering performance?

A: The Intel Core i5-3350P leads in every multi-core test. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 371 versus the AMD's 316, a delta of -14.8%. This pattern repeats in Cinebench R20 (1546 vs 1318) and R23 (3681 vs 3140), with the Intel part maintaining roughly a 14.7% advantage.

Q: Which processor features integrated graphics?

A: The AMD A12-9800 includes a Radeon R7 integrated graphics solution. The Intel Core i5-3350P has no integrated graphics listed, which means it requires a discrete GPU for any display output.

Q: What are the memory support differences between the two?

A: The AMD A12-9800 supports DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus, offering a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The Intel Core i5-3350P supports DDR3 memory, also dual-channel, but its memory bandwidth is not specified in the data.

Q: How do the single-core scores compare in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core i5-3350P achieves a single-core score of 519, while the AMD A12-9800 scores 443. This represents a -14.6% delta, showing the Intel chip's advantage is consistent even in single-threaded tasks despite its lower clock speed.

Q: Do both processors share the same socket?

A: No. The AMD A12-9800 uses the AMD Socket AM4, while the Intel Core i5-3350P uses the Intel Socket 1155. They are not interchangeable.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent fundamentally different design approaches. The AMD A12-9800 is built on the Excavator architecture, codenamed Bristol Ridge, using a 28 nm process node fabricated by GlobalFoundries. It integrates 3,100 million transistors on a 250 mm² die. In contrast, the Intel Core i5-3350P is based on the Ivy Bridge architecture, using a more advanced 22 nm process from Intel, with a significantly smaller die size of 133 mm². The transistor count for the Intel chip is not listed.

Cache hierarchies also differ markedly. The AMD part has a total L1 cache of 320 KB and a 2 MB L2 cache, with no L3 cache present. The Intel part lists its cache per core: 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and a shared 6 MB L3 cache. This larger pool of shared cache on the Intel chip likely contributes to its performance advantage, as it provides faster access to frequently used data across all cores.

Other architectural distinctions include the PCIe configuration. The AMD A12-9800 provides Gen 3 with 8 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel Core i5-3350P provides Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The AMD chip also features integrated Radeon R7 graphics, whereas the Intel chip has none. Memory support is another major split: the AMD part uses DDR4, while the Intel part uses DDR3. The release dates are far apart, with the Intel chip launching in September 2012 and the AMD chip arriving in July 2017, roughly five years later, yet the older design still wins in benchmarks.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The data from the head-to-head comparisons is unambiguous: the Intel Core i5-3350P wins all five benchmark tests, leaving the AMD A12-9800 with zero victories. The most telling result is in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where the Intel chip scores 371 against the AMD's 316, a -14.8% delta. This early test sets the tone for the rest of the comparison.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the gap persists. In multi-core, the Intel part scores 1546 versus 1318 for the AMD, a -14.7% difference. The single-core test in R20 shows the Intel chip at 217 and the AMD at 186, a -14.3% delta. This consistency across both single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads is notable, suggesting the Intel architecture's efficiency per clock outweighs the AMD's higher raw clock speeds.

The Cinebench R23 results reinforce the trend. In multi-core, the Intel chip scores 3681 while the AMD manages 3140, a -14.7% margin. In single-core, the Intel part scores 519 versus 443, a -14.6% delta. Across all five tests, the delta hovers tightly between -14.3% and -14.8%, indicating a remarkably uniform performance deficit for the AMD processor. This consistency implies the difference is not workload-specific but rather a fundamental throughput gap between the two designs.

The Intel chip's advantage is particularly surprising given its lower base clock of 3.10 GHz versus the AMD's 3.80 GHz. This suggests that the Ivy Bridge architecture, despite being older, executes instructions more efficiently per cycle, likely aided by its larger L3 cache. The AMD's Excavator architecture, while newer, appears to rely on brute clock speed to compensate for a less efficient core design, and that strategy does not pay off in these benchmarks.

Specification Differences

The two processors diverge on nearly every major specification except for core and thread counts, where both offer 4 cores and 4 threads. The most visible difference is the socket: AMD uses AM4, while Intel uses Socket 1155. The process node also differs, with AMD at 28 nm and Intel at 22 nm, leading to a substantial die size gap of 250 mm² versus 133 mm².

Clock speeds are a point of differentiation. The AMD A12-9800 has a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost of 4.20 GHz. The Intel Core i5-3350P has a base of 3.10 GHz and a boost of 3.30 GHz. Despite the AMD's higher clocks, the Intel chip wins all benchmarks, highlighting the architectural efficiency gap.

Cache configurations are entirely different. The AMD chip has 320 KB L1, 2 MB L2, and no L3. The Intel chip has 64 KB L1 per core (totaling 256 KB), 256 KB L2 per core (totaling 1 MB), and a 6 MB shared L3. This larger L3 cache on Intel is a critical differentiator. Memory support also splits: AMD uses DDR4 with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth, while Intel uses DDR3 with no bandwidth listed.

Integrated graphics is another clear split. The AMD A12-9800 includes Radeon R7 graphics, while the Intel Core i5-3350P has none. TDP is close but not identical, with the AMD at 65 watts and the Intel at 69 watts. PCIe lanes differ as well, with AMD offering 8 lanes and Intel offering 16 lanes. The release dates are also far apart, with Intel launching in September 2012 and AMD in July 2017.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the benchmark data, the Intel Core i5-3350P is the superior processor for raw compute performance. It wins every single head-to-head test by a margin of roughly 14.5%, regardless of whether the workload is single-threaded or multi-threaded. The data shows this is not a marginal victory but a consistent, repeatable performance advantage.

The AMD A12-9800's redeeming qualities lie not in its CPU benchmarks but in its platform features. It offers integrated Radeon R7 graphics, which the Intel chip completely lacks. This means a system built around the AMD part can operate without a discrete GPU, while the Intel chip requires one. The AMD part also supports DDR4 memory, which is a newer standard, and its 38.4 GB/s memory bandwidth is explicitly listed, whereas the Intel chip's DDR3 bandwidth is not specified.

For users who prioritize pure processing power and already have a discrete GPU, the Intel Core i5-3350P is the clear choice from this data. Its 6 MB L3 cache and 22 nm process node deliver better performance despite lower clocks. For users who need a simple desktop solution without a separate graphics card, the AMD A12-9800 provides an all-in-one package, though the benchmark results indicate its CPU performance will be noticeably weaker.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-3350P wins in every computed benchmark category. It takes the Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests, and it also wins the single-core tests in R20 and R23. This makes it the go-to option for any CPU-intensive workload, including rendering, video encoding, and general multitasking, according to the data. Its higher average benchmark score of 1088 versus the AMD's 1081 further supports this position, though the margin is slim in that aggregate metric.

The AMD A12-9800 wins in areas not covered by the compute benchmarks. Its integrated Radeon R7 graphics is a significant feature absent from the Intel part, making it suitable for basic display tasks or light gaming without a dedicated GPU. It also supports DDR4 memory, which could be an advantage in system building for future upgrade paths, and its 38.4 GB/s memory bandwidth is a listed specification that the Intel chip lacks. The AMD part's lower TDP of 65 watts versus 69 watts is a minor efficiency win, though the performance deficit likely outweighs this in most scenarios.

The data also shows that the AMD A12-9800 sits in the 30th percentile of all CPUs, same as the Intel Core i5-3350P. Both chips have identical average benchmark scores relative to their nearest rivals, with the AMD's closest competitor being the Intel Core i5-4440S at a 0.3% delta, and the Intel's closest being the AMD Athlon 220GE at a 0% delta. This suggests that while the head-to-head results favor Intel, both chips occupy a similar tier in the broader CPU landscape. The choice ultimately depends on whether the user values the Intel's performance edge or the AMD's integrated features and modern memory support.